The College of Optometrists’ award-winning patient website gets a makeover

The College of Optometrists has refreshed its eye care website, which provides information and advice to the general public and enables a better understanding of the role of optometrists in maintaining the nation’s eye health.

The new Look After Your Eyes now features:

• an improved ‘find a local optometrist’ search function, helping patients locate College Members and Fellows in their area. Users will now be able to find practitioners who offer additional languages, home visits and dementia-friendly services
• a refreshed, modern look and feel, with clearer navigation for users
• up-to-date, evidence-based content aimed at giving users advice and information to which optometrists can confidently direct their patients
• new practical content on conditions including styes and conjunctivitis.

Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom, Clinical Adviser to The College of Optometrists, says: “The Look After Your Eyes website update makes evidenced-based eye health information easier for the public to access and understand. The up-to-date content will mean that College members can continue to feel confident in referring patients to it for further advice and information. The improved member search function also allows patients to easily locate practising members in their area, and works alongside the College’s highly successful patient leaflet series in raising public awareness of the profession, and membership of the UK’s optometric professional body.”

College members are being invited to update their practice information on the local optometrist member directory.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The College is the professional body for optometry. It qualifies the profession and delivers the guidance and training to ensure optometrists provide the best possible care. We promote excellence through the College’s affixes, by building the evidence base for optometry, and raising awareness of the profession with the public, commissioners, and health care professionals.
    
2. Look After Your Eyes carries the Internet Crystal Mark, which is awarded to websites that meet language, accessibility, navigation, design and layout standards set by the Plain English Campaign. It was named Website of the Year, 2013 by MemCom, an industry body for membership marketing professionals.